Content:
- Combating Obesity Among Adolescents
- Understanding India’s Relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan
- The Workings of an Atomiser and Its Myriad Applications
- Follow OROP Principle for All Retired HC Judges: SC
- Amit Shah Launches e-Zero FIR Initiative
- RBI Revises Draft on REs’ AIF Investments
Combating obesity among adolescents
Context : Rising Concern and Initiatives
- Adolescent obesity is gaining increased attention in public discourse and national health programmes.
- Poshan Pakhwada 2024 focused on childhood & adolescent obesity along with the first 1,000 days of life.
- Let’s Fix Our Food consortium (ICMR-NIN, PHFI, UNICEF, etc.) released policy briefs to improve food environments for adolescents.
- The Supreme Court has directed the Central government to implement transparent food labelling regulations within 3 months — a step toward accountability.
Relevance : GS 2(Health)
The Nutrition Paradox
- India faces a dual burden: undernutrition and rising obesity among adolescents.
- Adolescents face:
- Rapid growth phase
- Increased vulnerability to poor nutrition
- Risk of long-term NCDs (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases)
- Ultra-processed foods dominate due to marketing and convenience.
- World Obesity Atlas 2024: India has one of the fastest-growing rates of childhood obesity.
- Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey:
- 5%+ adolescents overweight/obese nationally
- 10–15% in some states
- Concerning due to adolescents forming ~20% of India’s population
Vulnerability in a Liberal Food Environment
- Adolescents appear to have food choices but lack access to healthy options.
- Influences: schools, social media, peers, marketing.
- Highly processed, sugary, and salty foods dominate diets.
- Impact extends beyond health:
- Poor nutrition → ↓ academic performance, ↓ concentration, ↑ absenteeism
- Future productivity and mental health also suffer
Solutions: Two-Pronged Strategy
Strong Regulatory Policies
- Make healthy food accessible, affordable, and aspirational.
- Introduce fiscal tools:
- Health tax on HFSS (High Fat, Salt, Sugar) foods
- Subsidies for nutritious foods
- Implement Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels (FOPL)
- Enforce regulations on misleading food ads, especially on digital platforms and in schools.
Youth Engagement and Food Literacy
- Nutrition education in schools and communities
- Promote food literacy:
- Distinguishing healthy vs. unhealthy food (including home-cooked)
- Reading and interpreting food labels
- Choosing diverse, locally sourced diets
Need for Convergent Governance
- Nutrition is a multi-sectoral issue: spans across ministries like WCD, Health, Agriculture, Education, Industry, Consumer Affairs.
- Lack of inter-ministerial coordination weakens efforts.
- Programmes like Poshan Abhiyaan offer frameworks but need better convergence in action.
Conclusion: A Call for Systemic Shift
- Combating obesity needs:
- Healthy food plates
- Playgrounds for physical activity
- Robust policy interventions
- Youth-led awareness and leadership
- A transformed food ecosystem
- It’s not just about awareness — it’s about reshaping the environment that influences choices.
Understanding India’s relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan
Geopolitical Context
- Trigger for boycott: Turkey and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan following India’s response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
- Institutional reaction: IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, and JNU suspended MoUs with Turkish universities.
- Public sentiment: Strong boycott calls emerged on social media; many tour operators cancelled promotional offers for Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
Defense & Strategic Alignments
- Turkey–Pakistan military ties:
- Turkey has exported arms to Pakistan since the 1990s.
- Main exports: artillery (guns, howitzers, rocket launchers) and armored vehicles.
- Turkey’s political support for Pakistan:
- Consistent support on the Kashmir issue.
- Pakistan reciprocates by supporting Turkey in its Cyprus dispute.
- Azerbaijan–Turkey nexus:
- Turkey supported Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
- Azerbaijan regained control in 2023; Turkey denied direct involvement.
India’s Strategic Responses
- India–Armenia defense ties:
- India has supplied Armenia with missile systems and rocket launchers.
- No defense trade between India and either Turkey or Azerbaijan as per SIPRI data.
Economic & Trade Impact
- Minimal trade dependence:
- Combined crude oil imports from Turkey & Azerbaijan < 1% of India’s total crude oil imports in past 6 years.
- India, however, is Azerbaijan’s 3rd largest crude oil buyer — boycott would impact Azerbaijan more.
- Machinery imports from Turkey:
- Includes reactors, boilers, and mechanical appliances.
- Turkey’s share in these categories is just ~1%, with India relying more on China and Germany.
Tourism Trends
- India to Turkey:
- Indian tourists < 1% of Turkey’s total tourists in 2024.
- But tourist numbers from India had been rising steadily.
- India to Azerbaijan:
- Indian tourists grew from <6% (2023) to ~10% (2024).
- Boycott calls came at a time of increasing Indian outbound travel to both nations.
Education Ties
- Student inflow rising:
- Indian students in Turkey & Azerbaijan rose from <100 in 2017 to 777 by Jan 2024.
- Indicates growing academic engagement despite recent diplomatic tensions.
The workings of an atomiser and its myriad applications
What is an Atomiser?
- An atomiser is a device that converts liquid into a spray or mist, enabling uniform distribution.
- A spray is a collection of droplets dispersed in gas.
- Key spray characteristics include:
- Drop size
- Spray pattern
- Angle of application
- Drop size metrics:
- Average surface area or volume
- Relative Span Factor (RSF) – measures drop size uniformity.
- Laser-based scattering is used to measure drop size accurately.
Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)
How Do Atomisers Work?
- Basic mechanism: Liquid is forced through a narrow channel, creating a pressure drop that breaks it into droplets.
- Types of flow outputs:
- Flat fan spray – used in paint sprayers.
- Sheeted spray hitting a ramp – useful for uniform coatings like pesticides.
- Pressure-swirl atomiser:
- Liquid swirls along chamber walls.
- Air passes through center, forming a conical spray.
- Aerosol atomisers:
- Produce droplets <10 micrometres.
- Can stay suspended in air for hours.
- Created using high shear force, ultrasound, or air-assisted methods.
Applications of Atomisers
Industrial Uses
- Power plants: Coolants sprayed on turbine blades.
- Lubrication: On moving mechanical parts to reduce heat.
- Spray drying: Used in making milk powder.
Automobile & Aerospace
- Fuel injectors: Pressurised fuel sprayed into combustion chambers.
Firefighting
- Foam sprays: Used to suppress flammable solid fires.
Agriculture
- Spraying fertilizers/pesticides.
- Spray irrigation in poorly percolating soils.
Medical Uses
- Nasal sprays for lungs.
- Topical sprays for pain relief and antiseptics.
- Disinfectants for air and surfaces in hospitals.
Scientific Research
- COVID-19 aerosol modelling: Helped understand airborne spread.
- Climate science: Studying aerosol cooling effects in atmosphere.
Household Uses
- Spraying cooking oil, mirror cleaners, perfumes, hair sprays.
- Deodorants – the most familiar and widespread use.
Conclusion:
- Atomisers combine engineering precision with everyday practicality.
- They are ubiquitous, essential in fields from medicine to climate science, and help improve efficiency, safety, and comfort in modern life.
Follow OROP principle for all retired HC judges: SC
Supreme Court Verdict Highlights
- SC mandates One Rank One Pension (OROP) for all retired High Court judges, including those who retired as additional judges.
- Full pension and retirement benefits must be uniformly applied, regardless of:
- Source of entry: Whether from district judiciary or the Bar.
- Tenure: Length of service as a judge.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance, Social Issues)
Key Observations by the Court
- “One rank, one pension” must be the norm for constitutional offices.
- Inequality in pension violates Article 14 of the Constitution (Right to Equality).
- Disparity based on length of service or mode of entry is unconstitutional.
Pension Directive
- The Centre is directed to pay:
- ₹15 lakh per annum as full pension to retired Chief Justices of High Courts.
- Applicable irrespective of tenure or source of entry.
Implications
- Standardizes retirement benefits among judges.
- Ensures dignity and parity in post-retirement life of constitutional functionaries.
- May prompt similar demands from other constitutional/executive offices.
Constitutional and Legal Context
- Reinforces Article 14: Right to equality before law.
- Affirms principle of non-discrimination in service benefits for holders of constitutional posts.
- Strengthens judicial independence through uniform post-retirement dignity.
Amit Shah launches e-Zero FIR initiative
Key Initiative: e-Zero FIR
- Launched by: Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Pilot location: Delhi.
- Objective: Automatic registration of FIRs for financial cybercrimes involving fraud over ₹10 lakh.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance)
Mechanism & Platforms Involved
- Complaints made via:
- 1930 helpline
- cybercrime.gov.in portal
- Auto-converted to FIRs without victim needing to approach a police station.
- Integrated systems:
- I4C’s National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
- Delhi Police e-FIR system
- NCRB’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS)
Purpose & Benefits
- Ensures swift registration of cybercrime complaints.
- Reduces delays in investigation and increases chances of fund recovery.
- Addresses victim difficulties in getting police to file FIRs in high-value cyber frauds.
- Aims to strengthen cybercrime enforcement nationwide.
National Impact
- Initiative to be scaled up across India after Delhi pilot.
- Supports centralised tracking and real–time response to cyber financial frauds.
- Enhances coordination among police, forensic units, and data networks.
Broader Context
- Part of strengthening India’s cybercrime response infrastructure under I4C.
- Aligns with Digital India goals and rising cybercrime threats in financial domains.
RBI revises draft on REs’ AIF investments
Regulatory Background
- Issuing Authority: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Subject: Investment by Regulated Entities (REs) in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
- Reason: To tighten financial discipline and prevent conflict of interest in debt investments.
Relevance : GS 3(Indian Economy , Banking)
Revised Draft Directions Highlights
- Cap on single RE’s contribution to any AIF scheme: 10% of the AIF corpus.
- Cap on total REs’ contribution collectively to a scheme: 15% of the corpus.
- No restrictions on RE investments up to 5% of the corpus.
Provisioning Norms for Risk Containment
- If RE’s investment exceeds 5% of AIF corpus and
- The AIF scheme invests downstream in a debtor company of the RE,
- Then the RE must make 100% provisioning for the proportionate exposure.
Regulatory Coordination
- RBI’s move aligns with SEBI guidelines:
- SEBI mandated specific due diligence on AIF investors and their investments.
- Aimed at improving transparency and preventing regulatory arbitrage.
Broader Implications
- Encourages prudent exposure of banks and financial institutions to AIFs.
- Aims to avoid indirect lending to stressed entities through AIF route.
- Supports financial sector stability by curbing risky investments and circular lending practices.
